print "MCMXCIX = "; romanDec( "MCMXCIX") '1999
  print "MDCLXVI = "; romanDec( "MDCLXVI") '1666
  print "XXV     = "; romanDec( "XXV")     '25
  print "CMLIV   = "; romanDec( "CMLIV")   '954
  print "MMXI    = "; romanDec( "MMXI")    '2011

  end

function romanDec( roman$)
  arabic  =0
  lastval =0

  for i = len( roman$) to 1 step -1
    select case upper$( mid$( roman$, i, 1))
      case "M"
        n = 1000
      case "D"
        n = 500
      case "C"
        n = 100
      case "L"
        n = 50
      case "X"
        n = 10
      case "V"
        n = 5
      case "I"
        n = 1
      case else
        n = 0
    end select

    if n <lastval then
      arabic =arabic -n
    else
      arabic =arabic +n
    end if

    lastval =n
  next

  romanDec =arabic
end function